Wrench



Nov. 13, 1934.

c. K. Hu'rHslNG WRENCH Filed Jan. 31. 19,34 2 Sheets-Sheet l l KERK; 3v.. lh.:

' Nov. l1,3, 1934. c. K. HUTHSING 1,980,862

WRENCH Filed `Jan. 31, 1934 2 lsheets-sheet 2 Flo.

:Paienteol Nov. .13, 1934 Unirse sT-ATfeEs WRENCH Charles K. Huthsing, Clayton, Mo.

Application January 31,

4 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to wrenches, and with regard to certain more specic features, to wrenches for use in connection with re extinguishing apparatus and the like.

This ,invention is an improvement upon the wrench shown in United States Patent 1,936,359, dated vNovember 21, 1933.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an improved wrench of convenient form which may be universally used with certain old and new types of nre vhose couplings, the saine being'usable in several ways and on several sizes of such couplings the provision of a wrench of this class 'which is also adapted to perform other duties; the provision or" a wrench or" the class described which may be readily carried about by remen or the like and the provision of such apparatus which is exceedingly simple and fool-proof in operation and which may be economically manufactured. Other objects will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exempliiied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a plan View of the wrench in use on a coupling;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines an alternative position for applying the wrench to the coupling;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing an alternative position of parts;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a. cross section taken on line 6,-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detail view of a detent per se; and,

Fig. 8 is a view showing another use of the wrench.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of l the drawings.

spring 4'7 and hence the detent 23 is normally 1934, Serial No. 709,966

(el. si-em nre hose couplings il while the'fulcrunrB engages the couplings in one of a pair of vperipheral depressions 2. l t l, I

The rear end of the'body 1 is formed asapisi tol grip 13 having a claw 15 which mayv Vbfeilsx'ld 60 for prying purposes, yas illustrated in Fig. 8. A guard 17 is employed above the grip 13. Serra*- tions 19 serve to increase the friction of the Op' erators hold on the pistol grip.

Through the handle 1V (and 'corresponding'in position to a pistol barrel) is iorrned a barrel 21 for slidably accommodating a detent 23,'said` dietent having a cylindrical orrn which is also/hollow, as shown at numeral 25,. The hollow portion 25 of the detent is slotted on oppositev'sdesfas shown at numeral 27 for the purpose of'accor'nf modating a cross pin 29 which is driven with'a force t into the body 1 and thus functionsfasa guide and a means for holding the detentfpiston in the bore 21. The pin 29 isalsousedfasaren action point for a forward spring31which tends normally'to press the detent 23 toward the "engaging 4position shown in Fig. 3. n g 1n order to withdrawthe detent 23 frointhe engaging position shown in Fig.l3 and: place it the disengaged position shown in Fig. 4, ajtrig'ger 33 is used, the same comprising a serratedl finger piece 35 and an extension `3'7 for 'pivotally engaging a iulcrum 39 'above thelinlefof motion y of the detent 23. The extension 37 :passes througha lower slit' 41 the body`25 of the'detent 23 and also through an upper slit 43. The trigger is adapted to withdraw the detent by engaging a portion thereon located behind said l slit 41. A second spring 4'7 reacts between the 90 trigger extension 37 and said cross pin 29 so as to ensure engagement between the trigger and said portion 45 without lost motion. The forward spring 31 is stronger than the rearward driven to the position shown in Fig. 3.

1t will be noted that the trigger extension 37 oscillates in an opening 49 'from which the trigger may be removed by removing the fulcrum pin 39. This also releases the detent 23 for removal, provided the pin 29 is removed.

Among the advantages of the invention are:

(l) The simplicity of the construction and low number of parts. There are only three major parts, besides the two springs and two pins which constitute minor parts.

(2) In View of item 1, the device is very reliable.

(3) A low number of parts results vin the ability to make each part strong and heavy without ultimately making the wrench too heavy.

(4) The wrench may be applied in either clockwise or vcounterclockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines, and rotation is eiected in either direction. A man may turn the couplings in either direction, with force.

(5) The pistol-like construction leads to facile handling of the wrench.

(6) 'Ihe heavy construction of the device permits its use as a tool for other purposes such as illustrated in Fig.- 8 and for purposes such as knocking ice from couplings and the like, al1 without damage to the working parts which are on the interior of the wrench.

(7) The moving elements of the wrench being on the interior are protected from damage which exteriorly mounted parts 4would be subjected to.

(8) The provision of the fulcrum 39 above the detent 23 results in the use of the trigger 33 as a second class lever vwhich provides a leverage which is more than if it were used as a iirst Clas lever.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower claw 7 is provided with a notch 8 which serves to center the wrench on the cylindric lugs of the old type of coupling having cylindrical instead of the present type of lug.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the-above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that al1 matter contained in the above description 01 shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.l

I claim:

, 1. In a wrench, a body having a claw at one end, a'pistol grip at the other end, a fulcrum located between said claw and said grip, said body having a barrel oppositely located with respect to saidclaw, a triggeroperable from said hand on said grip, means for pivoting said trigger above said barrel, a hollow detent in said barrel, said detent having at least one slot therein, a pin passing through said body and said slot and adapted to holdsaid detent prisoner, a spring reacting between said last-named pin and the forward end of said detent to normally press the detent end, a pistol grip at the other end, a fulcrum located between said claw and said grip, said claw having a barrel oppositely located with respect to said claw, a trigger operable from said hand on said grip, means for pivoting said trigger above said barrel, a hollow detent in said barrel, prisoner means holding said detent prisoner but permitting limted movement thereof, a spring reacting between said last-named means and the forward end of said detent to normally press the detent toward said claw, said detent having an opening for accommodating said trigger, and a spring reacting between said trigger and said prisoner means to force the trigger to engage the rear of the detent.

3. In a wrench, a body having a claw at one end, a pistol grip at the other end, a fulcrum between the claw and the grip, said body having a barrel substantially directed toward said claw, a circular and hollow detent in said barrel having slots, means passing through said slots and attached to said body for loosely holding said detent prisoner, resilient means reacting between said pin and the end of said detent tonormally press the same towards said claw, a trigger,

vsaid detent having means accommodating said trigger, means for pivoting the trigger to the body above the detent, and a spring reacting between the 'trigger and said pin, said springs both being within the hollow detent.

' 4. In a wrench, a body having a claw at one end, a grip at the other end including a fulcrum between the claw and the grip, said body having a circular barrel, a hollow detent in said barrel having a slot, means passing through said slot and attached to said body for holding said detent prisoner, resilient means reacting between said pin andthe end of said detent to normally press the same towards said claw, a trigger, said detent having means accommodating said trigger, means for pivoting the trigger to the body above the detent, and a spring reacting between the trigger and said pin, said springs both being within the hollow detent.

CHARLES K. HUTHSING. 

